Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Vol. 7–Blog Tour Day #3

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Quiltmouse

Vol7-100Blocks-CoverWe’re halfway through the Blog Tour. 

I want to warn you that I don’t believe this Blog Tour will show off all of the 100 Blocks in this issue.  But today there are a number that I tested.

Let’s get started with today’s Featured Designers!  I’ve used “**” to mark the Designers in the list that I tested their block.  Click on the link to visit their blog and read more about their block.

Today’s Featured Designers

My Tested Blocks

My group tested 13 of the 100 Blocks.  We randomly received patterns and didn’t know (and had no choice) as to which techniques we would be testing.  One of my goals during this project was to ‘expand & challenge’ my quilting skills.  Well I did that!  Out of the 13 blocks I tested 5 of them were Appliqué. Two of them are included here. Before this, I can honestly say I had only appliqued one block. 

Cherry Guidry – Block #602 – My Retro Chair (Appliqué)

Reading her Blog, it sounds like Cherry had fun creating this block.  She also made a quilt using this block and it is included in the Designer’s Gallery in 100 Blocks Vol. 7.

My version – Using the Title “My Retro Chair” as my guide I choose Hot Pink & Florescent Green along with Black & Animal Skin for my fabrics.  A friend of mine recently created a quilt and used it to reupholster her couch! This is about as close as I’ll come to doing that!

Dodi Lee Poulsen – Block #639 – Fancy Free (Foundation or Paper Piecing)

On her Blog, Dodi shares pictures of several possible quilt top layouts using this block. I love seeing how the same block used differently can make such unique tops.

My Block – While testing the blocks for 100 Blocks Vol. 7, I also got to practice my Foundation or Paper Piecing technique.  I like how, when using this technique, the points & angles are all nice & sharp!

Remember I mentioned that I got to make a quilt using blocks I tested?  Well, remember this one, you will see it again (and again).  See the fun fabric?  It is “Monkey Around” by Quilting Treasures (see the old timey Sock Monkey dolls?).  I want to thank Quilting Treasures for their support of the 100 Blocks Vol. 7.

Marcia Harmening – Block #603 – Norwegian Rosemaling (Appliqué)

Check out the quilt she made highlighting this block!  The quilt was chosen to be included in Vol. 7’s Designer’s Gallery on page 16.

My Block – This was the last block I tested and when I printed the pattern I held my breath.  It is so pretty but it was so much appliqué.  As I said before I haven’t done much of this process and I wasn’t sure how mine would turn out.

Tomorrow I’ll be busy and unable to do any quilting, but I will post on my Blog.  You won’t want to miss it.  I will unveil the quilt I made which is included on page 90 in the Block Tester’s Gallery.

Until then, enjoy the Blog Tour!

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Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Vol. 7–Blog Tour Day #2

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Quiltmouse

 

Join me for 100 Blocks Blog Tour Day #2!

joinforblogtour7_200

#100 Blocks

In today’s Blog, Quiltmaker shows several blocks.  One of them is Stepping Stones Stars by Martha McCouskey.

I tested this block in November and used Christmas colors.  It almost looks like stained glass.

mef-McCloskey-SteppingStoneStars1

Today’s Featured Designers

From today’s Featured Designers, I tested Stacey Carey’s Bedtime Story which is Block #627.  In her blog post, Stacey talks about her love of reading which inspired this block.

I liked this block, maybe because I like to read in bed.  Although now-a-days, I’m reading on my NOOK rather than a physical book.  I haven’t done much applique before and testing some of the blocks was challenging.  But this block had both piecing and applique.  My block

MEF-CareyStacey-Girl in Bed

Check out the other Designers and their blocks.  I bet you just might find one you like.  Leave a comment on Quiltmaker’s Blog or one of the Featured Designer’s Blogs and you might win a copy of 100 Blocks Vol. 7 or one of a number of great prizes from fabulous sponsors!

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Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Vol. 7–Blog Tour Day #1

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Quiltmouse

It is finally here! This is the week of the Blog Tour celebrating Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Vol. 7.

JoinMe-BlogTour

Why am I so excited?  I’m excited because I was part of this publication.  In October a group of us began testing/proofing the patterns for the 100 blocks in this issue.  We were broken down into smaller groups – Mine was Group #1 – that had 4 testers.  Each week or so we were given a pattern of a block to make.  After making it, we submitted a picture of our completed block along with an evaluation giving any comments we had. Our group tested 13 blocks.

Vol7-100Blocks-Cover

This was a fun process, but unfortunately, we had to keep our projects a secret.  That is until now! 

During the Blog Tour, each day, Quiltmaker will highlight a number of the blocks and their designers.  Each designer will also have a blog post sharing their block, and maybe showing quilts, wall hangings or table runners using their block. 

This is truly a Party!  There will be issues of Vol. 7 given away and prize bundles to be won.

Today’s Featured Designers

I tested a block from one of these Designers – #2 Nancy Mahoney.  She named her block “Emerald Isle.”

This is the block that Nancy made.  It is Block #620 on page 31. It is a paper pieced pattern.  I haven’t made too many blocks using paper piecing.  The first one I did was a kite pattern for our grandson.

Now, this is the block I made using Nancy’s pattern.

I’ve got so much more to share, but for now, why don’t you check out the Featured Designers.  Maybe you’ll find a block you might want to make!

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Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Vol. 7–Blog Tour Day #1

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Quiltmouse

It is finally here! This is the week of the Blog Tour celebrating Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Vol. 7.

JoinMe-BlogTour

Why am I so excited?  I’m excited because I was part of this publication.  In October a group of us began testing/proofing the patterns for the 100 blocks in this issue.  We were broken down into smaller groups – Mine was Group #1 – that had 4 testers.  Each week or so we were given a pattern of a block to make.  After making it, we submitted a picture of our completed block along with an evaluation giving any comments we had. Our group tested 13 blocks.

Vol7-100Blocks-Cover

This was a fun process, but unfortunately, we had to keep our projects a secret.  That is until now! 

During the Blog Tour, each day, Quiltmaker will highlight a number of the blocks and their designers.  Each designer will also have a blog post sharing their block, and maybe showing quilts, wall hangings or table runners using their block. 

This is truly a Party!  There will be issues of Vol. 7 given away and prize bundles to be won.

Today’s Featured Designers

I tested a block from one of these Designers – #2 Nancy Mahoney.  She named her block “Emerald Isle.”

This is the block that Nancy made.  It is Block #620 on page 31. It is a paper pieced pattern.  I haven’t made too many blocks using paper piecing.  The first one I did was a kite pattern for our grandson.

Now, this is the block I made using Nancy’s pattern.

I’ve got so much more to share, but for now, why don’t you check out the Featured Designers.  Maybe you’ll find a block you might want to make!

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An Unexpected Package in the Mail.

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Quiltmouse

Last week I started seeing comments on Facebook and on a number of Blogs about Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Vol. 7 pre-release Blog Tour.  The week of April 29 – May3rd there will be a Blog Tour highlighting the Designers and previewing their Blocks.  The issue hits the news stands on May 7th.

I was planning where I would head to get my copy once it was released.  Then I got a fat envelope in the mail.  Guess what they sent me – a couple of copies!!

My 2 Copies

It was exciting to see the other blocks that I didn’t test – I tested 13 of the 100 blocks.  Then I had to turn to Page #90 – My quilt made using 3 different Blocks I tested is among the 11 quilts made by Block Testers & 16 quilts made by Designers that are pictured in this issue.

So, now I’m planning my Blog Posts to show off the Blocks I made and today the mailman brought me a box I wasn’t expecting.

Don’t you just love getting unexpected goodies?? I do!  I had seen a blog posting by another Vol. 7 Block Tester – Tiffany Hayes – Needle in a Hayes Stack which tipped me to expect a package.

So, inside my box I found a lovely, unexpected thank you from Quiltmaker Magazine – A mug that commemorates 100 Blocks, Vol. 7 which has all 100 blocks on it.  I liked looking for the ones I tested.

And in true Quilter’s fashion, the mug was wrapped up 3 squares of batting!  Waste Not, Want Not.  I’m seeing some NICU quilts using these squares!  Do you think I should use one of the blocks from Vol. 7 to make them – just thinking…..

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